Geology and ground-water resources of Waushara County, Wisconsin

Water Supply Paper 1809-B

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Abstract

Abundant ground water for irrigation is available in the outwash deposits in western Waushara County, and many more large-capacity wells can be developed in these deposits without seriously lowering the water level.
Pumping for irrigation temporarily lowers water levels in the vicinity of the wells but has not lowered regional water levels. Pumpage has probably intercepted and utilized some of the recharge that would have been rapidly discharged from the aquifer. Ground water is continuously being discharged to streams and to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration, but intermittent recharge from precipitation replaces the discharged water. Recharge and discharge are in approximate balance, maintaining about the same amount of ground water in storage. Further recharge to the aquifer is rapidly discharged to streams.
The sandstones, till, and glaciolacustrine deposits in Waushara County generally yield small to moderate amounts of water to wells but do not produce enough water for irrigation ; recent alluvium may yield large quantities of water to wells.
In general, the ground water is of good quality, except for hardness and local high-iron concentrations.